Venetian blind and mechanism for operating the same



Jan. 2s, 1936. M, Q W.CKS 2,029,143

VENETIAN BLIND AND MECHANISM FOR OPERATING THE SAME Filed Aug. 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR f/f@ ATTORNEYS M. O. WICKS Jan. 28, 1936.

VENETIAN BLIND AND MECHANISM FOR OPERATING THE SAME Filed Aug. 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 728, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE Milton O. Wicks, Glen Cove, N. Y.

Application August 24, 1934, Serial No. 741,262

11 Claims.

My invention relates to blinds, shades and screens, and more particularly to Venetian blinds.

Some of the well-recognized disadvantages characteristic of the commonly used Venetian blinds and similarly constructed blinds and screens are the ineiclent means employed ior raising and lowering the blinds, for maintaining them in any one desired elevated position, and for collapsing the blinds evenly, that is, drawing the separate louvers or slats together in such a manner that they remain parallel to the baseboard of the window or other opening for which the blind is used.

The most common means for raising and lowering Venetian blinds consist of cords attached to the bottom blind board and running up through holes in the other boards, and thence over a system of pulleys. To maintain the blind in any one desired position, it is necessary to fasten these cords in some manner and this is usually done by winding them around a small knob mounted on one side of the Window. As is well known, this arrangement proves to be quite a nuisance in that the cord has to be fastened and unfastened cach time the elevation of the blind is changed. Also, the cords often work loose from the knob, with the result that the blind falls suddenly, causing damage to objects on the window-sill and sometimes injuries to persons seated thereon. Furthermore, when raising or lowering the blinds with these cords, the tension on the cords must be kept the same or else one sid-e of the blind will rise or fall faster than the other, with the result that the blindis in a skewed position with respect to the base of the Window. This latter effect is, of course, undesirable since it destroys the desired neat appearance of the blind and window,

Numerous attempts have been made in the past to overcome the inherent disadvantages and limitations of the prior art blinds and shades mentioned above, but, as shown by their marked absnce from the trade, these attempted improvements have not been commercially satisfactory. They comprise the use of rollers and spring operated rollers for operating the blind in a manner similar to the operation of the ordinary window shade. The main difficulty which has hitherto been experienced with the use of such apparatus, is that it was very diincult to obtain and maintain the correct tension on the spring in the roller. This required repeated dismantling of the blind and roller in order to reset the spring, and furthermore, for blinds of large dimensions, it proved diiicult toobtain a spring suiciently strong for lifting the blind and at the same time small enough to enable its being mounted in the window frame.

Other attempts directed to overcome the disadvantages of these collapsible types of blinds comprise rollers or spring operated rollers in combination with numerous gears for controlling the operation of the roller. Although these attempts constitute some improvement over the well known manually operated blind and over the proposed window shade type of blind, supra, they have proven impractical and unsatisfactory due principally to their comparatively large inconvenient size and substantial cost.

In accordance with my invention, the limita- 15 tions and disadvantages characteristic of all of the prior art of which I am aware, have been substantially minimized by the development of a very simple and yet versatile and eicient mechanism, as outlined by the following objects of my invention.

One object of my invention is to provide a spring operated mechanism suitable for attaching to collapsible blinds and possessing means for automatically lowering and raising the blind to any desired position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a spring operated Venetian blind comprising combination means for simultaneously raising the blind and tensioning the spring.

A further object of my invention is to provide a collapsible blind which may be operated by a spring by electric power, by hand, or by combinations of the three.

One of the main features of my invention is the combination of a spring roller having three locking dogs at one end of-its casing, with a stub shaft connected to one end of the spring and carrying a sprocket and chain and a pawl and chain for regulating the tension of the spring and for raising and lowering the blind. 'I'hese members are cooperatively associated in such manner that great lifting power is obtained and controlled. A slight pull on the sprocket chain will raise the blind and a sharp pull will release the dogs. A slight pull on the chain connected to the pawl will release all parts as a unit and effectively lock the blind by causing it to become fully extended, thereby preventing any up or down movement of the same.

The novel features, which I believe to be characteristic of my invention, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, will be more fully undercasing with its three locking dogs.

Fig. 4 is an end view taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 2 showing the combination mechanism for tensioning the spring and also for raising and lowering the blind, part of the sprocket being broken away to show the ball bearings.

Fig. 5 is an end view taken along line 5 5 of Fig. 2 showing the slotted stub shaft and engaging pawl.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing a modified arrangement of the locking dogs shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a piece of one of the Venetian blind slats and slat clips attached thereto for adapting the slats to be individually replaceable.

Referring now to Fig. l, the Venetian blind I and the operating mechanism 2 are shown mounted in a Window. frame 3. As is shown, the

operating mechanism 2 is in the form of a unitary structure that is easily mounted in the window frame and may either be connected to the blind when the latter is manufactured, or may be easily added to the common type of hand operated Venetian blinds in general use today.

The mechanism 2 is preferably enclosed in a rectangular shaped box, made of metal, wood, or any other suitable material, so that the roller and controlling mechanism are not visible. The front side of this box has been omitted in Fig. 1 in order to show the roller and its associated members. The box is mounted in the window by means of the extended side pieces 4 and screws 5. 'I'he siderpieces 4 are connected to the blind I through the intermediary of the movable The blind itself consists of the usual slats 1, exible connecting tapes 8, and flexible collapsing members 9, which may be in the form of flexible metal bands or fabric cords. These members are, per se, all well known in the art and, therefore, form no part of the present invention, except in their cooperative association with the operating mechanism 2. The tilting slat I0 and cord II are also -well known in the art and are not claimed as part of this invention. It is thus seen that the present invention is not particularly concerned with the structure of the Venetian blind itself, but is directed to the combination of such a blind with the associated mechanism and its integral parts for automatically lowering and raising the blind.

As will' be understood from the description given hereinafter, my invention enables-the blind I to be automatically raised and lowered to any desired position by proper control of the spring roller I2, or by manual operation of the chain I3 with or without the use of the lifting power of the spring roller, or by means of the motor I4 by itself or in combination with the spring action.

^ When operating the blind I by means of the spring roller I2, it is conveniently raised or lowered to any position by pulling on the cord [I5 in the manner commonly used for adjusting the height of a spring operated window shade. Due to the greater weight, however, of the Venetian blind and also due to its collapsible construction, it is necessary to have more accurate adjustment and control of the tension of the spring in the roller than is necessary with the common window shades. Accordingly, the combination means which I have developed, as shownin Figs. 2 to 6, possess these necessary features. In practicall, all cases, the blinds can be operated by the spring roller alone, but where especially large blinds, such as those suitable for large department store windows, are used, it may be desirable to manually raise and lower the blind, and this may bedoneby pulling the continuous chain I3. Also, when it isv desired to operate such blinds at a distance, the motor I4 may be attached to the chain I3 and the switch for the motor located at some suitable place. The motor will be preferably of the controlled speed reversible type so that the blind can be raised and lowered at the most satisfactory speed.

The cord I6 is attached to a pawl II, which engages a slotted stub shaft I8, the. latter having mounted on it a sprocket wheel I9. By pulling the cord I6, the pawl II is disengaged from the slotted shaft I8, causing the blind to be extended to its full length effectively locking the blind, and this is often desirable. To unlock the blind it is only necessary to pull on the chain I3, which will cause the shaft I8 to rotate, and thus reengage the pawl II. These latter features will be more clearly understood by reference to the following description of Figs. 2 to 6.

Referring now to Fig. 2, which shows the details of the unitary operating mechanism 2 for operating the blinds of the type shown in Fig. l, the spring operated roller I2 is mounted within the rectangular shaped box like member 20. One end of the spring 2l terminates in a pin 22, which is supported by a ball bearing 23. The bearing 23 is in turn supported by a block 24, the latter being .vertically positioned, as shown, between the upper and lower side members of the box 20. The block 24 may be fastened in the box 28 by a friction fit or by screws, thus making it easily removable and the entire spring roller I2 easily replaceable.

When the spring roller I2 is very long, it is desirable to support its mid-section, and this may be e'iciently done by means of the ball bearing 25 located in the vertically positioned block 26. By using ball bearings there is very little friction be- .tween the roller and the bearing, and this adds to the effective lifting power of the spring operend of the hub 29 is provided with slots 3|, dogs 32, and a tongue 33. These members are shown in detail in the end view in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it is seen from the end view there shown that the roller I2 and its associated parts are enclosed in the rectangular shaped box 20, shown in section. A guide roller 34 is provided in the bottom of the box 20 for guiding the flexible Stringer or collapsing member 9.

The rim of the hub 29 is provided with three slots 3i, and on the bearing 30 are pivotally mounted, by means of pins 35, the three locking dogs 32.

By employing three dogs it is necessary to have4 the roller I2 rotate only one-third its distance around to cause one of the dogs 32 to engage with one of the slots 3I. This provides for more accurate control of the blind using such a roller since it will be raised only a short distance before one of the dogs engage and lock the blind. Of course, by means of a slight downward pull on the blind the dog is disengaged and the blind may then be raised to any other desired position. 'Ihe ordinary window shade roller has only two dogs and therefore possess less accurate control of the shade, that is, the shade will rise a greater distance before becoming locked by one of the'two dogs.

'I'he tongue 33 is shown in a vertical position since one of the dogs 32 is engaged. These dogs can engage the slots 3l only when the tongue 33 is in this Vertical position. The engaging of the dogs 32 locks the spring 2I in relation to the roller I2 (Fig. 2).

Referring again to Fig. 2, it is seen that the hub 23 and its associated parts are connected to a stub shaft 35 by means of the tongue 33, which extends into a slot formed. in the shaft 36. The tongue may be maintained in this slot by a tight friction nt or by some other means, such as the set screw 3l. The stub shaft 36 is supported at its inner end by the ball bearing 38 and its outer end by the ball bearing 39. The ball bearing 38 is supported by block 610 and the ball bearing 33 is supported by the end member of the box 2E. The outer end of the stub shaft 36 may be, for convenience sake, reduced in diameter as indicated at i8.

Between the ball bearing 38 and the ball bearing 33 there is mounted on the stub shaft 36 the sprocket wheel I9, which is held in place by set screw di. Another block l2 forms a guide for the chain I3 carried on the sprocket wheel I9, as shown in Fig. 1. At the outer end of the stub shaft 36 is located the pawl il held taut by the spring 53. The sprocket and pawl mechanisms are shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively.

Referring to Fig 4, the sprocket i3 is shown mounted on the stub shaft 36, which is in turn supported by the ball bearing 33. The links in the chain I3 engage the teeth M of the sprocket wheel I9 so that the wheel may be rotated by proper manipulation of the chain I3. Guide rollers i5 are provided for easy running of the chain i3. The chain I3 may, of course, be of any suitable type for engaging the teeth Lift.

In Fig. 5 is shown the pawl Il, which is pivotally mounted on the pin lit, and is normally engaged with one of the slots I6 formed in the stub shaft 3G. The spring i3 hol-ds the pawl il in engagement with one of the slots 33. For releasing the stub shaft 3B from the pawl I7 it is only necessary to pull the cord i 6, as mentioned above in connection with the description of Fig. 1. Pawl I l when engaged holds the blind i in any desired position whether the dogs 32 are engaged or not.

A modification of the locking dogs of Fig. 3 is shown in Fig. 6. In the latter gure the three dogs @7 are shown all engaged with the three slots 3l in the hub 29. The dogs are maintained in this position by means of set screws 48. This arrangement of the dogs is for the purpose of keeping the spring in the spring roller (see Fig. 2) permanently locked when it is desired to operate the blind by hand or motor, as mentioned above in connection with Fig. l. When the dogs are thus locked the spring roller is in effect converted into an ordinary roller.

To more clearly understand the various methods of operation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the following description is given:

When it is desired to operate the blind I by means of the spring roller only, that is without the addition of manual or electric power, it is first necessary to adjust the tension of the spring 2 I. This is very easily done by pulling downward on the inner half of the chain I3 which will cause the sprocket wheel I9 to rotate in a clockwise direction, and ths in turn rotates the connecting hub 29. The end 2B of the spring 2| is connected to this hub and therefore the spring 2I is wound up or tightened when the sprocket wheel I9 is rotated. 'Ihe correct or desired tension of the spring will vary with different uses of the blinds, but it is usually that tension required to automatically raise the blind at about the same speed with which the ordinary window shade operates. The tension of the spring 2l may be tested, of course, by pulling slightly on the cord I5 (Fig. 1) and allowing the blind l to rise underthe pull of the spring roller I2. Once the correct tens'on is obtained the chain I3 may be tied to one side or back of the blind i, or if desired may remain suspended, as shown in Fig. 1, for once adjusted the spring should maintain its correct tension for several years or longer, provided of course the tension of the spring is not released by manipulation of the pawl I1 as will be explained hereinafter.

It will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 2-5 that for tensioning the spring 2l, in the manner described just above, the pawl i l must be engaged with one ,of the slots 46 of the stub shaft 36, for if it is disengaged the entire roller i2 and its associated parts will turn as a unit. It is also important to note that for proper operation of the blind it is essential for the slots i6 of the stub shaft 36 and the slot in which the tongue 33 iits, to be in exact al'gnment with each other, along the longitudinal axis of the stub shaft 36; otherwise, the dogs 32 will not function properly.

To lower the blind, when it is being operated by means of the spring roller, it is necessary only to pull the blind down against the tension of the spring, or if desired the blind can be very quickly lowered to the full extent by pulling the'cord I5 (see Figs. 1 and 5). yWhen the cord i6 is pulled downward it overcomes the tension of the spring d3, and thus disengages the pawl il from the slotted stub shaft 3G. When the shaft 36 is thus released, it causes the dogs 32 to become disengaged and the spring 2l to uncoil rapidly. When the spring 2l is freed of its tension it will no longer'hold the blind I and the latter will drop due to gravity. The blind is thus fully extended and the spring 2l is free so that it will not raise the bl'nd by simply giving the blind a slight pull in the usual manner. The result of this is that the blind is effectively locked, as mentioned above. In some cases this feature is advantageous, for example, it will prevent children or meddlers from operating the blind.

Still another way to lower the blind consists in holding the chan I3 with one hand and gently releasing the pawl I'I, so' that it disengages the slots 46 in the stub shaft 36 and thereby permits the roller I2 to rotate, but does not release the tension in the spring 2|. The result is that all parts rotate freely as a unit and the blind falls due to gravity. The speed of lowering is controlled by the chain 3, and when the desired position of the blind obtained the pawl I1 is; made to reengage the slot in the stub shaft 3%. If it is desired the blind may be permitted to lower all the way down so that it is fully extended and is thus elfectively locked, as. mentioned just above.

The simple, spring operation, of the blind described just above will perhaps prove to be the one most connnonly used for the blinds of my invention, because it will make their operation, for home use and general oillce use, as simple as the operation of the ordinary window shade and at the same time will give the full benets of the desirable features of Venetian blinds not possessed by the ordinary window shade.

As suggested above, when the blind is to be used in large store windows and the like, it may be desirable to operate it by hand or motor power. For operating the blind by hand power, the dogs 32 should be arranged in the manner shown in Fig. 6, that is, they should be permanently locked. With this arrangement one can raise the blind by simply pulling downward on the chain I3, and such operation will not affect the tension of the spring 2|.

For raising or lowering the blind by means of electric power, the motor I4 snown in Fig. 1 may be utilized. The operation here would be the same as that described just above except that the chain would be attached to the shaft of the motor and pulled by the motor instead of by` hand. For such operation the dogs 32 should be permanently locked as shown in Fig. 6.

It is to be understood that in practically all` y cases neither the manual nor motor operations, supra, is necessary, for due to the simplicity of my device springs can be obtained sufliciently strong for raising any reasonable size of blind. One advantageous feature of the motor operation, however, is that it will provide remote control of the blind; that is, the switch for the motor might be positioned at any distant point. For example,

the switch might be located on the inner wall"-of,

would operate as a free running spring. This Y may be done very easily by loosening the set screws 48, rotating the dogs 41 outward toward the roll l2 and then retightening the screws 48.` Still another way to operate the blind would be to use an ordinary plain roller instead of a spring roller.

Experience has shown that it is often desirable,

if not necessary, to remove one or more of the slats forming the Venetian blind, such as the slats 'I shown in Fig. 1. However, the construction of the commonly used Venetian blind is such that it has to be more or less completely dismantle-d to enable any one of the slats to be removed. The main reason for this is that the stringers or eollapsing members, such as 9 shown in Fig. 1, run up through holes formed in the center of each of the slats, so that to remove one of the slats from the bottom of the blind it is necessary to first remove all of the slats above it. To overcome these disadvantages I have developed as part of this nism.

invention certain types of slat clips, such as those shown in Fig. 7. Y

Referring now to Fig. 7, the slat 1 is provided with .two different types of openings for the stringers or collapsing members. One of these openings 4S is in the form of a slot suitable for guiding the nat tape type of stringer, such as 9 shown in Fig. 1, While the other opening 50 is more or less round, suitable for guiding the cord type of collapsing member. The opening 9 is provided with a passageway 5I which runs from the opening out through the edge of the slat 1. 'I'he opening 50 is provided with a similar passage 52 which also extends through the edge of the slat 1. It is apparent that such a construction would permit the slats to be individually detached and replaced without removing the remaining slats in theblind. To reenforce the slats constructed in this mann'er and to prevent the collapsing tapes or cords from getting out of 'l place, I have provided thin metal clips 53 and 54. These clips fit into the openings 49 and 50 and cover the passages 5I and 52. The clips may be bent at their inner ends to hold them Vin the slots 49 and 50, or they may be held to the Slat 1 by a tight v friction t. It is to be understood, of course, that both of the clips 53 and 54 do not have to be used on the same slat, but that either one may be chosen, according to the type of opening used for the collapsing members.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described hereinabove by way of example, but is subject to various modications and changes, the scope of which is to be limited only by the appended claims.

'What I claim as new is:

The combination with a blind of the collapsible type, of a spring operated'unitary mechanism attached to the blind for raising and lowering the same, said mechanism comprising combination means adapted for the dual functions of raising and lowering the blind and for controlling the tension of thaspring in said mecha- 2. The combination with a blind of the collapsible type, of a spring roller attached to the top of the blind, and means connected to one end of the spring roller for controlling tension of the spring therein and for controlling the raising and lowering of the blind.

3. The combination with a blind ofthe collapsible type, of a spring roller attached to the top of the blind, means connected to one end of the spring roller for controlling the tension of the spring therein and for raising and lowering the blind, and means for locking and unlocking the spring in said spring roller.

4. The combination with a blind of the collapsible type, of a spring roller positioned at the upper end of said blind, means attached at one end of the spring roller for holding the spring, said means being adapted to be controlled from the lower part of the blind, and means also controllable from the lower part of the blind for releasing and rewinding the spring in said roller.

5. The combination with a blind of the collapsible type, of a spring roller positioned at the top of said blind, means attached at one Yend of the spring for holding the spring under tension and adapted to be controlled from the lower part of the blind, means for regulating the tension of the spring in said roller from the lower part of the blind, and means for tripping the spring in said roller to render it free running or powerless.

6. An automatically operated blind of the collapsible type comprising a plurality of slats, a spring operated roller positioned at the top of said slats, exible means running through said slats and attached to said roller for collapsing said blind upon rotation of the roller, means attached to one end of the spring in said roller for controlling the rotation of the roller by said spring, means for tensioning the spring in said roller, means for releasing all of the tension in said spring, flexible means suspended from said spring tensioning and said tension releasing means, whereby by proper manipulation of the flexible means the spring in said roller can be suitably tensioned to collapse the blind and can be released to fully extend the blind.

7. The combination with a blind of the collapsible type, of a spring operated roller attached to the blind for raising and lowering the same, a stub shaft connected to one end of the spring in said spring roller and carrying an integrally associated sprocket wheel and apawl associated with said shaft, said sprocket wheel being adapted upon rotation to regulate the tension in said spring suitable for raising the blind, and said pawl being adapted to engage the stub shaft for maintaining the tension on said'spring when it is desired to maintain the blind in an elevated position, said pawl also being adapted by proper manipulation to disengage said stub shaft and thereby release the tension on said spring when it is desired to quickly lower the blind.

8. The combination with a blind of the collapsible type, of a spring roller and associated mechanism to enable the blind to be automatically raised and lowered, the spring in said roller terminating at one end in ai fiat tongue, the casing of said roller having mounted on one of its ends three locking dogs adapted to lock the roller three times upon each complete rotation thereof, a stub shaft connected to said tongue and supported at each end by ball bearings, a sprocket wheel carried by said shaft and adapted upon rotation to rotate said tongue and thus tension said spring, and a pawl cooperating with the stub shaft, and located adjacent said sprocket wheel, said pawl normally engaging slots formed in the stub shaft in alignment with said tongue and adapted toV be disengaged from said slots to rele'ase the tension created in said spring by rotation of the sprocket wheel, whereby the blind may be automatically lowered.

9. A unitary mechanism adapted to be attached to collapsible blinds for holding the same at a desired position and for enabling automatic operation thereof, comprising a rectangular shaped housing member enclosing a spring operated roller and associated parts the tension of the spring in the roller being controlled in such manner that the spring roller will automatically raise and lower a blind attached thereto, the parts cooperatively associated with said roller comprising a stub shaft connected to one end of the spring in said roller, said shaft carrying a sprocket wheel for regulating the tension of said spring, and a holding pawl adapted to be moved to either release all tension in said spring or to release said roller without releasing any of the tension in said spring.

10. A unitary mechanism adapted to be attached to Venetian blinds and the like to render the same automatic, comprising an elongated box like member in which is enclosed a spring operated roller and associated parts, said roller being supported by a plurality of ball bearings, a stub shaft mounted in ball bearings and attached on one end to the spring in said spring roller, a sprocket wheel and chain mounted on one end of said stub shaft and adapted upon rotation of the'sprocket wheel by proper manipulation of the chain to increase the tension of the spring in said spring roller and to raise the blind attached thereto, and a holding pawl associated with said stub shaft and adapted to be moved to release the tension on said spring for lowering the blind.

11. 'I'he combination with a blind of the collapsible type, of a spring roller and associated mechanism attached to said blind for lowering and raising said blind, said roller having located at one of its ends a plurality of locking dogs for controlling the tension of the spring in said spring roller, a stub shaft connected to said roller and carrying a sprocket wheel and chain for regulating the tension of said spring, said locking dogs being adjustably mounted, whereby the spring in said roller may be permanently locked or permanently disengaged or alternately engageable and disengageable.

MILTON O. WICKS. 

